KDSN RADIO News
Area vaccine updates
Crawford County Memorial Hospital offered an update on the rollout of the Moderna Covid19 vaccine that has been administered to numerous CCMH Employees. Many Denison and Crawford County residents have called wondering when the vaccine will be available to the general public as well as expressing reservations about potential side effects. To date, 110 CCMH employees with close contact to COVID19 patients have received the vaccine. A few employees have reported mild side effects such as a sore arm, “dull” headache, chills, or fatigue. According to the post, the Moderna vaccine shows it is safe to be administered not just to medical providers but to the general public as well when available. The update as well as answers to Frequently Asked Questions can be found on the CCMH Facebook page or at ccmhia.com. The Denison Care Center had reported that they had residents and staff who had received their first round of being vaccinated on January 3rd. Eventide posted on their website that Walgreens will be on site tomorrow to offer the Pfizer vaccine to nursing home and assisted living residents.
KNOD Harlan reported that Shelby County offered a vaccine rollout update. In the update it was stated that, Harlan's Myrtue Medical Center’s Public Health is working with facilities in Shelby County to allocate vaccine doses to the Phase 1A priority populations. All 400 doses allocated to Shelby County thus far were administered by Wednesday, January 6th to healthcare personnel in the county. Nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the county are working with the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-term Care Program to receive COVID-19 vaccine for their residents and staff. Elm Crest Nursing Home in Harlan will be the first facility in Shelby County to begin receiving their first dose of vaccinations today. It is anticipated that all long-term-care facility staff and residents will receive their first dose of vaccine by the end of January.
Burgess Health announced they are currently at the Phase 1A point in their distribution process. This means that Burgess, based in Onawa with locations in Dunlap, Mapleton, Sloan, Whiting as well as one other in Nebraska, can administer vaccines to eligible individuals that fall in Phase 1A cohort. The Phase 1A group consists of health care personnel and long-term care residents. It is estimated that by today, 200 Burgess healthcare workers will be or have received the vaccine through their public health clinic. Many in Iowa and beyond have voiced frustration with the vaccine's distribution. Governor Kim Reynolds recently backed up those voices.
